Winstrix: A Windows style Taskbar, Launcher, and utility suite for macOS in native Swift
Update available: If you downloaded the trial before 7/14, please grab the latest version. I've pushed out an update that fixes some taskbar and desktop icon glitches (stuck icons, Finder windows misbehaving) and a licensing hiccup on reinstalls. There are also a new feature allowing you to search your clipboard history. Head to winstrix.app and download the newest version to get the fixes. Hey everyone, My name is Scott. I spent most of my career using Windows, before making the switch to Mac to expand my development setup. The hardware is incredible, but years of muscle memory made the switch difficult. I was constantly messing up shortcut keys and missing the ability to navigate using window task bar features like hoover previews and the app launcher. Instead of downloading five different apps to fix my minor frustrations, I decided to build a unified solution called Winstrix. To make sure I am sticking to the sub rules, here is the PCP breakdown. The Problem: For anyone jumping between operating systems or making the switch to Mac permanently, the transition can slow down your workflow. While there are alot of comparable features, remembering all the correct keys to press can be difficult, and fixing your muscle memory usually requires buying multiple separate apps. Winstrix adds a highly customizable environment to macOS while letting you choose exactly what features you want active and disabling what you don’t: Taskbar with Hover Previews and click to minimize: Hover over any app icon to see live thumbnails of its active windows, allowing you to instantly select or close a specific window. Click the open icon to minimize a single window or hold the icon to minimize all windows for that app. The Launcher: A dedicated menu featuring unified search, an all-apps layout, and quick access to your pinned and recent applications. Shortcut Key Mapping: Easily map Windows-style keys like Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z, and Ctrl+Alt+Delete so your typing habits remain completely seamless. Integrated Utilities: Built-in Clipboard History with the ability to airdrop to your phone, plus a clock tray complete with a calendar dropdown and custom system shortcuts. Clutter Control: Quick toggles to instantly hide or reveal both your desktop icons and crowded menu bar icons. Screen Capture Suite: A full featured screenshot tool and screen recorder with an integrated editor. Linear Scroll Speed: Removes the acceleration curve that makes standard mouse wheels feel jumpy and unpredictable. Every tick of your scroll wheel moves the exact same amount 100% Modular: Every single feature has an independent on/off toggle. If you only want the shortcuts and the taskbar, you can turn off everything else completely. Comparison: Unlike other individual apps like standalone clipboard managers or menu bar hiders, Winstrix focuses on a unified, modular solution. If you look at an app like uBar, it gives you a taskbar but lacks a modern Start style launcher or a built in utility suite. Tools like DockMate or HyperDock add hover previews to the standard Mac dock, but they do not change the underlying macOS workflow. Raycast and Alfred are great launchers, but they operate completely differently than a traditional Start menu. Winstrix is built as a complete, unified alternative. It gives you the taskbar, the launcher, hover previews, and the utility suite in a single lightweight native app. You do not have to piece together multiple programs, manage conflicting settings, or pay multiple subscriptions. Winstrix gives you an entire workflow suite inside a single, lightweight native app where you retain total control over what runs. It is built entirely in native Swift with zero Electron, so it's lightweight with practically no footprint. It is also completely invisible when turned off, meaning you can flip a single switch to go right back to stock macOS at any time or you can pick and choose which features to enable and disable. Pricing: Winstrix comes with a 14 day free trial so you can test it out fully on your machine. I am currently running a launch discount for 30% off with code Launch30. The regular price is $24.99 before the discount, for a perpetual license that you keep forever. There are no recurring subscription fees. Website**:** https://winstrix.app/ Privacy & Data: Everything happens locally on your Mac. There is no account to create, no cloud connectivity, and absolutely no telemetry or analytics tracking in the app. Your files and data never leave your device. Transparency: I want to be transparent so the community knows this is a legitimate project backed by a real person. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sldavis5/ The Privacy Policy and Terms of Service are fully detailed right at the bottom of the Winstrix homepage. https://winstrix.app/privacy/https://winstrix.app/terms/I would love to get some honest feedback and any feature requests are welcome as well. Let me know what you think and thanks for taking the time to check out this post!
Collected discussion
Bill gates come with real ID 😝...
Too funny 😂
This looks very interesting. I'll definitely try this out. I really like the interactive demo on your website. How did you create that?
Glad you like it, It’s a browser-based visual mockup demo built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Fantastic - seems pretty functional.
Thanks, it certainly helped me be more functional on mac :)
This looks great! might give it a try
Thanks, if you do I would love to get your feedback.
Interesting. I will give it a try!
Awesome, please let me know what you think.
Looks great for an AIO app! Any chance to have search in the clipboard like other clipboard apps?
Yes, that is a great idea. Will definitely add that.
I have added this feature to the latest version. If you would like to try it, you can now download it on the website.
this is great for my mom who got a neo but only knows windows... i would buy it, but the only thing missing is the windows window navigation. maximize button should be like windows fullscreen, and not mac full screen with its own desktop - basically disable mac fullscreen. no need for multi desktops.
I would like to but unfortunately Mac’s green maximize button is built into macOS separate full screen desktop system, and Apple doesn’t let you reliably replace or disable it across every app. Trying to force it would be unreliable and could break normal window behavior.
It could be that I am just incredibly stupid, but I can't seem to progress past this screen?
You are definitely not stupid, there is a checkbox next to "I have read and agree to Winstrix Legal terms" that is really difficult to see in Light mode. I have only worked on this in dark mode so I didnt even realize this was an issue until now, thanks for reporting it. I will get it fixed.
Can each feature be toggled off independently? I use BetterMouse to configure my mouse and keyboard, Winstrix seems to interfere.
Yes there is a toggle for each feature in settings that can be toggled off.
Thanks for pointing this out. I missed adding this toggle to the pointer settings ui. I have updated the app, if you download the latest version from the website, you will have the ability to toggle this off.
Update available: please grab the latest version. I've pushed out an update that fixes some taskbar and desktop icon glitches (stuck icons, Finder windows misbehaving) and a licensing hiccup on reinstalls. If you downloaded the trial before 7/14 please head to winstrix.app and download the newest version to get the fixes.
Awesome!
Thanks!
So strange ! But really looks like W11
Cool. Might try this